Im new & need help weaning off Effexor XR?

Ive been on Effexor XR for over 17 years. At one point, I was on 300 mg because i was suicidal. Slowly, I've been weaning off of it. I'm currently down to 37.5 mg. with 300 mg of Welbutrin to help take place of it. I told my doctor that I wanted off this drug due to the weight gain. She told me to take 10 mg of Prozac when I stop taking Effexor. I tried this on Monday with no issues. Tuesday, I started feeling "weird" but didn't think anything of it. Wed, I woke up feeling horrible with fatigue, loopiness, nausea, and feels like my brain will explode! I went back to see my psychiatrist today (Thursday), and she says to go back on the low dose of Effexor. I work with small children during the day, so she says to wait until the summer to start weaning off this med again.

I found this site to see how long it takes for the withdrawals to last before finally free of this. I don't want to ruin my whole summer and then still feel miserable when I have to go back to work (school) in the fall. I saw someone post a regimen for weaning off, something like 37.5 and half of a capsule. She put it in A B C order (her A was 75 mg) B 37.5 mg and C half of 37.5. I wanted to try that this summer but start with B.I believe the member's name was something like cuteandfluffy... please respond if you see this. Did this approach work for you? How long did your withdraw symptoms last? Are you totally free of it now? How do you feel?

Responses (1)

Hello Jzpeace. Just wanted to say best of luck and you are on the right path. I was 7 years on Effexor and I am 28 days off it now. I started weaning myself off late last year. I went from 150 to 75 for ant 2 months. Then 37.5 for a month. Then 37.5 every second day. The Dr also introduced 10mg of Prozac also to help the withdrawals. For me the Prozac did not help and made me feel worse so 28 days ago I bit the bullet and stopped all meds. The first week was really tough (if I had timed it better I would have taken that week off work). The withdrawals have lessened to a point now where I get little zaps once or twice a day. As I posted elsewhere I believe I can live with this because it feels so good to be free from that drug. I track each day I am off meds on an app called Habilbull and I get such a since of pleasure looking at the days accumulate. I will never go back to that drug again because I feel I am more connected and present in my life.

Hi Deexx2. I am currently on the 37.5 mg every other day and have been for many, many years. I'm ready to be off this stuff for good, but know I need to take at least a week off work in order to do so. Do you still have the brain zaps even after a month off the drug? With the type of job I have, I cannot function at work while suffering with Effexor withdrawals so I'm worried I will be stuck on this drug forever.